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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Read the passage and consider the underlined portion.

Oceanographers monitoring deep convective currents in the Labrador Sea recently deployed an autonomous underwater glider equipped with acoustic Doppler sensors. Operating continuously for six months, the submersible glided through frigid water columns to capture salinity profile data, however, the gathered measurements revealed an unexpected sub-surface eddy carrying warm, highly saline water northward. This hydrographic anomaly challenges existing circulation models and provides critical insights into ocean overturning dynamics.

Which of the following choices best corrects the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. data; however, the gathered measurements revealedAnswer
  3. C
    data, however the gathered measurements, revealed
  4. D
    data; however, the gathered measurements revealing

Answer

The correct option replaces the comma with a semicolon before 'however' and retains 'revealed' to properly separate two complete independent clauses.
The choice using a semicolon before 'however' and a comma after it accurately connects two independent clauses. Semicolons are grammatically required when using conjunctive adverbs to link two complete, independent sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause structure surrounding the underlined portion.
The clause before 'however' ('Operating continuously... capture salinity profile data') is an independent clause, and the clause following 'however' ('the gathered measurements revealed...') is also an independent clause.
Determining whether clauses on both sides can stand alone as complete sentences dictates the required punctuation.
2
Evaluate the punctuation joining the two independent clauses.
A comma alone followed by the conjunctive adverb 'however' is grammatically insufficient to join two independent clauses.
Connecting two independent clauses with only a comma and a transition word results in a comma splice error.
3
Select the option that properly separates the independent clauses while maintaining complete sentence structure.
A semicolon preceding 'however' followed by a comma creates a grammatically correct transition between two independent clauses, keeping full verbs in both clauses.
A semicolon effectively separates independent clauses, and the verb 'revealed' ensures the second clause remains complete rather than a fragment.

Key Concept

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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